How do you use exposure sheets to plan your animation timing and spacing?

2 How to create exposure sheets?

Creating exposure sheets can be done either by hand or using software. Software is advantageous as it allows for easy editing, copying, and printing of exposure sheets, and some programs can even generate them automatically from animation files. On the other hand, some animators prefer to use paper and pencil as they find it more intuitive and flexible. Regardless of your choice, you will need to take some basic steps to create your exposure sheets. This includes dividing your animation into scenes and shots, deciding how many layers of animation you need for each shot, determining the frame rate of your animation, sketching or scanning key drawings, assigning them to appropriate frames and layers, and adding notes for inbetweens, holds, sounds, and camera movements.

3 How to use exposure sheets for timing and spacing?

Exposure sheets are essential for planning the timing and spacing of your animation, which are the principles that determine how fast and how smooth your animation moves. Timing refers to the number of frames used to show an action or a change, while spacing is about how you distribute those frames along the path of motion. With exposure sheets, you can control the speed and acceleration of your animation by varying the number and duration of frames. You can also create anticipation, impact, and follow-through by using slow-in and slow-out, which means easing the motion in and out of key poses. Furthermore, timing charts can be used to define the rhythm and mood of your animation by showing the spacing of frames over time. Finally, you can synchronize your animation with sound and music by matching the frames with the beats and cues.

4 How to read exposure sheets?

To read exposure sheets, one needs to understand the symbols and abbreviations animators use to communicate their intentions. For example, a letter or number indicates which drawing to use for a layer, a dash (-) indicates a hold, a plus sign (+) an inbetween, a slash (/) a blank frame, a circle (O) a sound cue, and a triangle (△) a camera movement. For instance, A1-4 implies holding drawing A1 for four frames, A1+A2 an inbetween between drawings A1 and A2, /4 four blank frames, O:dog barks a dog barking sound starting at that frame, and △:pan left the camera panning left at that frame.

5 How to improve your exposure sheets?

Exposure sheets are not set in stone and may need to be revised as you work on your animation. To improve them, test them by flipping through your drawings or playing them back on a video monitor to check if the timing and spacing are as intended. Additionally, get feedback from other animators or directors and listen to their suggestions and critiques. Experiment with different timing and spacing options and compare the results. Lastly, keep your exposure sheets clear and consistent, avoiding unnecessary or confusing information.